lead_573_009_004_tr.txt

extracted text

(handwritten note) Elizabeth -
for info -
Jo-Anne

MEMORANDUM
AUGUST 17, 1989

TO: SENATOR DOLE
FROM: JO-ANNE

SUBJ: YOUR VISIT TO ARMENIA

While in Yerevan, the following information relative to Dr. and Mrs. Kelikian (Hampar and Ovsanna) may be helpful:

Dr. Kelikian was a very close friend of the Catholicos, the head of the Armenian Church. (His last name is Vazgn, but he should be addressed as Your Holiness). When you meet with the Catholicos, you should mention your relationship with Dr. Kelikian.

The doctor Mrs. Kelikian suggested you call is Professor Souren Zohrabian, whose phone number in Yerevan is 24-54-61. He was an exchange student, who lived at the Kelikians' home for one month. You should have someone who speaks Armenian place the call for you in case he is not at home, as his wife speaks no English.

She also wants you to call and try to meet with another friend, Congressman Zory Balayan, whose office phone number in Yerevan is 56-37-90, and home number is 53-22-88.

In visiting with these friends of the Kelikians, you might wish to advise them that Mrs. Kelikian will be arriving in Armenia on September 29 for a two-week visit.

Dr. Armen Kelikian (Hampar and Ovsanna's son) also asks if while you are in Yerevan you will inquire regarding the welfare of the four children that Project HOPE flew to Chicago, and Armen treated. These children were a part of a group of 37 earthquake victims who were brought to the States by Project HOPE (with guardians) and taken to various hospitals in the U.S. for treatment. (None were treated at any Kansas or Kansas City hospitals.) One of the kids taken to Chicago, who was treated by Armen Kelikian, had both of his arms severed, but has made a remarkably brave recovery (was featured in Chicago paper playing video games with his feet).

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Listed below are the names of the four children who were treated in Chicago:
Mher Avanessian, 8 year old boy, born May 11, 1981. From Karabagh, Armenia. Injury was a bilateral shoulder disarticulation.

Alla Darchinian, 7 year old girl, born January 27, 1981. From Spitak. Suffered left mid-humeral amputation.

Hratch Nalbandian (14 year old boy), born August 5, 1975. Also from Spitak. Suffered high right arm amputation and left forearm amputation.

Ara Tovmassian, 12 year old boy, born October 13, 1976. From Erevan (different spelling for Yerevan). Suffered bilateral high humeral amputations (both arms).

Avanessian, Nalbadian and Tovmassian were evacuated from Marash Hospital, and Darchinian from III Children's Hospital in Armenia. All four were treated at Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago, and were returned to Armenia on April 26.

Attached is a (very hard to read) listing of the 37 individuals (almost all of whom are children) who were brought to the States for treatment. The list shows the name and location of the hospital they were sent to, their names, where they came from in Armenia, their age and sex, a brief description of their injury, and the date they returned to Armenia. Note that two patients from Leninakan (with stars by names) will be returning to Armenia the same date you arrive.